Editing Leshy (section)

==Lifestyle==
Encounters with Leshy could take place anywhere in the forest, at any time. Leshy might be found in old dry trees (such as fir and willow), in hollows, in stumps, in upturned roots, in fallen logs, in woodland huts, in secret caves, and even underground. People inevitably get lost near Leshy's dwelling. Leshy's abode is protected by dense, impassable thickets and fallen trees which never freeze. Animals and birds are drawn there. Superstition says that forest creatures gather there before their death.

Often, Leshy is depicted as a solitary being, or as one of many diminutive forest spirits (leshy, for distinction.) In beliefs that feature many spirits, only one leshy may inhabit each forest (large forests may be divided into sections, each with its own leshy). In some tales, leshy can gather together, living in families (a leshy's wife is called a leshachikha or a kidnapped maiden, and their children are either their own offspring or also kidnapped children). Leshy homes are covered in animal hides, and guarded by dogs, and they keep livestock; there are stories of leshy leaders and kings; the head of the leshy is referred to as the forest chief, the woodland king, the forest dweller, Musail-les, or the Honorable Leshy. Leshy can move along human roads, but in the forest, they have their own invisible paths that do not coincide with those of humans and are dangerous places to get lost. There was a belief that not all leshy creatures are active throughout the day, but only during certain transitional hours: at night (especially at midnight), at dawn, at noon, or at an undefined “evil hour.”<ref name="Vlasova M.N 2008">Vlasova M.N. Leshij // Enciklopediya russkih sueverij. — Sankt-Peterburg: Azbuka-klassika, 2008. — 622 p.</ref>

Observations of leshy are also contradictory. Leshy are often depicted as having a majestic demeanor, yet they enjoy jesting, revelry, drinking, and playing cards. All the phenomena caused by gusts of wind in the forest might be Leshy activities: howling, the crackling of trees, and the rustling of leaves. The fallen trees and roofs torn off by hurricane winds in some regions are associated with the noisy weddings of leshy, which they celebrate during the summer. Leshy enjoy hanging and swaying on tree branches, which is why in certain places they are called the “hangers down.” They frequently sit on stumps, whittling wood.<ref name="Madlevskaya E.L. 2005. P. 314-327">Madlevskaya E.L. Nizshaya mifologiya: Leshij // Russkaya mifologiya. Enciklopediya. — Eksmo, Midgard, 2005. — P. 314-327.</ref>

Leshy the god might come into conflict with other, smaller leshy, as well as demons, water spirits, field spirits, and house spirits. Leshy takes care of the forest and protects it. He acts as the shepherd of all woodland creatures, depicted as an old man with a staff in his hand. He herds the animals, ensures their nourishment, defends them from hunters and fires. Leshy governs the animals under his dominion as his own property. He may gamble them away in a game of cards to another forest spirit, which served as a mystical explanation for mass animal migrations such as squirrels and hares. Leshy is often portrayed as the patron of only one or a few species of wild animals, most commonly bears and wolves (Leshy can manifest as a white wolf - the pack leader).<ref name="Krinichnaya, Neonila Artyomovna 2004 P.247-323" />

A series of dates in the folk calendar are associated with Leshy. The presence of multiple leshy was particularly common before [[Great Lent]], [[Palm Sunday]], and on the night of [[Ivan Kupala]] on June 24 (July 7). Leshy, like other spirits, celebrate the arrival of spring and [[Easter]] (the best gift for leshy being an Easter egg). On [[George's Day in Spring]], April 23 (May 6), or around St. Nicholas' Day, May 9 (May 22), shepherds could make agreements with Leshy. Hunters made agreements with Leshy on Easter and on the night of [[Ivan Kupala]]. On the night of Agafon the Monk, August 22 (September 4), Leshy would leave the forest and run through the villages, causing mischief in general. Peasants would guard sheaves of wheat from Leshy at night, walking around in a circle with a poker, as if enclosing the wheat with a fence. The [[Feast of the Cross]], September 14 (September 27), was also considered a special day for Leshy, when they would drive forest animals into special places to play cards with them. Peasants would avoid going into the forest on this day so as not to stumble upon the gathering of leshy.

On St. Erofey's Day, October 4 (October 17), Leshy would stop wandering through the forest, as they would sink into the ground for the winter. Leshy would become agitated, causing winds, digging up the earth, and scattering animals. It was considered dangerous to go into the forest on this day. Leshy would only reappear in the spring, when the snow began to melt. However, according to equally prevalent beliefs, Leshy would remain in the forest during the winter, causing blizzards. Like other unclean spirits, Leshy could manifest themselves during the [[Christmas]] season.<ref>Koshkarova Yu. A. K voprosu o vzaimosvyazi obrazov medvedya i leshego v russkoj narodnoj tradicii // Nauchnye vedomosti Belgorodskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Istoriya. Politologiya. Ekonomika. Informatika. — 2009. — Vol. 11, # 9 (64). — P. 97—102.</ref>

The origins of individual leshy are unclear, with various beliefs suggesting they may be cursed individuals, children swapped by dark forces, or offspring of a devil and a witch. In folk Christianity, some believed that leshy were either fallen angels or creations of the Devil who were cast down to earth. They may also be seen as descendants of [[Adam]] and [[Eve]] who were not acknowledged by God, or other individuals cursed by Him.<ref name="Novichkova T.A. Vstuplenie 1995. P. 3-12">Novichkova T.A. Vstuplenie; Leshachiha; Leshij // Russkij demonologicheskij slovar'. — SPb.: Peterburgskij pisatel', 1995. — P. 3-12; 294—340. — 640 p.</ref>